Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-Salamualaikum brother,

Is it mandatory for a man to take Ghusl/Bath after ejaculation which is due to non-intercourse reasons; like wet dreams etc...

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Answer:

Ghusl after wet dreams

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.10

Wadi is a thick white secretion discharged (by some people) after urination. It is considered impure. Aishah said, " Wadi comes out after urination. The person should wash the private parts and perform ablution. It is not necessary to perform ghusl. This is related by Ibn al-Mundhir. Ibn 'Abbas related that "mani” (ejaculation or full sexual discharge) requires ghusl. As for “madhi” (prostatic fluid or initial sexual discharge) and ‘wadi’ they require a complete purification." This is related by al-Athram. Al-Baihaqi has it with the wording, "Concerning ‘madhi’ and ‘wadi’, he said, 'Wash your sexual organs and perform the same type of ablution as you perform for prayer."'

Other than urine, there are basically three types of discharges that are released from one’s private organs:

1. Wadi (a thick white secretion immediately after uniration by some people)
2. Madhi (a sort of slow release of lubricant just prior to a full sexual discharge)
3. Mani (a full sexual discharge)

If only Wadi or Madhi is released, one does not require a ‘ghusl’ or full bath to purify himself; he must wash his private parts and the part of his clothes or body where the ‘wadi’ or ‘madhi’ has touched, do the wudu, and he would be available for prayer.

If Mani or full sexual discharge is released, then it becomes obligatory to perform a ‘ghusl’ or full bath to purify oneself.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.142 Narrated by Um Salama

Um Sulaim came to Allah's Messenger (saws) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! Verily, Allah does not feel shy to tell the truth. If a woman gets a nocturnal sexual discharge (wet dream), is it essential for her to take a bath?" He (saws) replied, "Yes if she notices a discharge."

If one experiences a wet dream in one’s sleep and notices that one has discharged ‘mani’, regardless of whether it happens to a male or a female, one would be considered to be in a state of major impurity and the performing of a ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification would be absolutely obligatory on such a person.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan